Paw Paw Lake Yacht Club Area Ice Dive

Posted in Club Dives, Fresh MUD by dwmack
Jan 22 2012
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Setting up camp in the parking lot

Another weekend and another ice dive at Paw Paw lake. The ice is not even close to the thickness we would like but still a challenge and an enjoyable past time.  The air temperature was 33F with just a bit of a breeze off the lake and the water temperature averaging 35F.

The visibility was 5 to 6 feet with little particulate unless you kicked it up. No one noticed any fish, crayfish, or even clams, just a few bottles and cans but nothing worth collecting today.

Jim S tried out his new GoPro camera today and were looking forward to seeing the results.

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Presentation Night at the South Haven Steelheaders

Posted in Club Dives, Fresh MUD by dwmack
Jan 19 2012
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Jim

Presentation at South Haven Steelheaders Association

Scholz, with a couple of tag along muddies, went to the “South Haven Steelheaders” monthly meeting where Jim presented a program on Shipwrecks off the shores of SW Michigan. 

Jim was able to publicize the South Western Michigan U/W Preserve, passed out copies of the “Divers Guide to Michigan U/W Preserves”, and spoke of how divers and fishermen can help each other on the Great Lakes.

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Paw Paw Lake Ice Dive

Posted in Club Dives, Fresh MUD by dwmack
Jan 15 2012
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Starting point for dive - Paw Paw Lake Yacht Club across from clay banks

 

Under the ice
Nice day for a dip beneath the cool waters of big Paw Paw Lake in Coloma, Michigan.  We entered the icy waters off the Paw Paw Lake Yacht Club area with the intention of checking out the clay banks. Unfortunately we did not have enought rope for that type of dive so we checked out the old pier area and slope instead.
 
We had some sunshine, air temp from 16 to 28F depending if you checked the temp when we first got there to when we finished the dive, the water temp varied between 32 & 34 depending on whose gage you believed and no wind chill factor. Visibility according to Darrin was 6 feet clear of particulate, bottles and cans visible without having to grub the bottom.  Did not see any turtles, crayfish, or fish period today.
 
 Thankfully we had the services of Dave Faulkner and Mary Beth Thar as surface support and tenders, for without the surface people there would have been no dive.
 
Come on in, the waters fine :)
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Paw Paw Lake, Watervliet, MI

Posted in Club Dives, Fresh MUD by dwmack
Jan 08 2012

Mack, Kirk, Dan, Darrin - Photo by David

 Nice dive today on the Coloma side of big Paw Paw Lake.  There was sheets of  skim ice in the lake, water temperature at 34F, air temp at 38F, very little wind, and ~ 5 foot visibility. 

Even this early in the season there was a bit of tall weeds out to the drop off, the bottom in this area semi-hard pack and with a noted lack of any sort of trash.

Still it was a nice day to be out with friends making sure the wet suits do not shrink. With no hard water, getting in a dive is easy.   Join US next time :)

2011-2012 New Years Midnight Dive – Singer Lake, Baroda, MI

Posted in Club Dives, Fresh MUD by dwmack
Jan 01 2012

Mud Club Before the Dive in 2011

 

After the Dive in 2012

  Greeting in the New Year (Underwater)

 On December 31, some time before the stroke of midnight, members of the Michigan Underwater Dive (MUD) club and friends began celebrating the changing of the year in their usual way, by entering the dark, icy water of one of Michigan’s numerous lakes.

 This year, Larry Steelman (Niles), Ken Riemer (Berrien Springs), Mary Beth Thar (Niles), Jim Scholz (Dowagiac), Bob Sweeney and Don McAlhany (both of St. Joseph) spent the ending of 2011 and the beginning of 2012 diving beneath the icy water of Singer Lake in Baroda.

 This dive event was accomplished with the assistance of Jeri Steelman, Lucy Riemer, Jake Thar and Kirk Wutzke who performed as surface support for all the participants.

 At some time after midnight, during the hoots and fireworks from nearby residences, the divers rose from the beneath the icy water into the New Year. This was one of the mildest New Year dives made with tonights air temperature & water temp both at 38F, with visibility up to 20 feet depending how far from the entry point you went, and no wind chill factor. It was confortable for shore support and the 2 wet suiters:)

For those interested in Sport diving, they are invited to attend the monthly MUD Meeting held at Andrews University, Price Hall, on the third Tuesday of each month beginning at 7:30 pm. For additional club information check out the club web site at http://mudclub.scubaobsessed.com/ and/ or drop a line to muddydiver@aol.com

 

Illuminated Flags

Singer Lake, Baroda, MI – Snow Day Dive :)

Posted in Club Dives, Fresh MUD by dwmack
Dec 27 2011

Three Little Mud Puppies

 

Singer Lake Snow Day 2011-12-27

 

After Dive Debrief 2011-12-27

 It was an interesting day, starting with snow then later in the day a bit of rain. The temperature at the dive site was 34F, the water had skim ice around the edges with a temp between 32 & 34F. Fortunately there was no wind and we did have the ice shed and one small toy box to dress in, both changing stations had heaters :)
 
The visibility according to our visiting diver from Valpo was 5 to 6 feet. The bottom was dark but we had surprisingly good visibility especially for grubbing. Items seen or picked up included two boats, lots of weeds, one very large cat fish  slumbering in a hollowed out log, assorted beer bottles, one nice small milk bottle, anchor, fishing pole with a nice reel and an arrow.
 
After the dive we drove to the Silver Spoon in Baroda but found it was closed so we went to Martins in Stevensville for coffee, soup and a nice gab session. 
 
 
 

Singer Lake, Baroda, MI

Posted in Club Dives, Fresh MUD by dwmack
Dec 21 2011

Reindeer Games - Mack

 

Reindeer Games - Darrin

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A nice day for a little dip in Singer Lake since the air temperature was ~ 44f, very little wind, just a bit on the drizzley side with the water temperature in the high 30′s. 
 
Visibility was ~ 10 if you were not near Mack, otherwise 4 feet to 1 feet  was more like it.  Found some bottles, cans and misc trash but only one keeper. A nice milk bottle from the Jasper Dairy, St. Joseph.  We appreciated having shore support from Richard C and Kirk W, and even had a few visitors checking in to see what was happening there.
 
Afterward we went to the Silver Spoon in Baroda for coffee, lunch and talking about diving:) 
There is no ice yet so your welcome to join us next week if you like. 
 

Sub-Aquatics (SASS) – Battle Creek, MI

Posted in Local Dive Shops by dwmack
Dec 19 2011

1 - Sass Dive Shop - Battle Creek , MI

Divers Inc – Ann Arbor, MI

Posted in Divers Inc, Local Dive Shops by dwmack
Dec 19 2011

1 - Divers Inc - Ann Arbor, MI

Saint Joseph River Dive

Posted in Club Dives, Fresh MUD by dwmack
Dec 13 2011
Whirlpool Basin Area – St. Joseph River
Today was an area checkout dive with MB in preparation for the New Years Eve night dive and as the picture indicates we actually had some visibility in the shallows and the calm water there belied the conditions away from shore. 
 
Downing the primary gear went fine with MB quickly learning to manage the typical difficulities associated with working with thick mitts on. Simple items like being able to locate, grab, then slip on fins straps and snap the links or readjusting you mask  over your hood face seam so it does not leak is NOT the same or as easy when you have thick mitts on.
 
Side to side visibility was several feet but the bottom was basicly black and you knew you were there by feel. And the water, well today it was “damn cold”, least way in wet suits it was:)  
 
Todays after action (dive) debriefing and discussion reinforced what we already knew.
 
Get out of the water before the cold makes it “difficult” to function, reinforced how you can not swim up current  especially when its at flood level but how easy it is to let the current carry you to the river bank, why its always good to have shore support handy with safety gear available in the event its needed, and having a dive flag with you really helps shore support be available in the area your actually in, not where you planned to be.    
 
          We had a good  day, a good dive and good experiences.  
 
                            
 
Latest Posts

Hunting Targets in Indian Lake by dwmack on August 28th, 2011
[caption id="attachment_2509" align="aligncenter" width="717" caption="Hunting sunken boats in Indian Lake"][/caption] A typical August day on the lake diving and verifying what appear to be sunken boats in various parts of Indian Lake.

Dive on the Muskegon by admin on May 1st, 2010
[caption id="attachment_756" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Bob and Kirk after a dive on The Muskegon"][/caption] Bob, Kirk, David and Darrin ventured into Michigan City, Indiana territory to dive on the wreck of the Muskegon.

Paw Paw Lake Dive by admin on June 11th, 2010
Mac and Darrin ventured to Front Beach Park, Paw Paw Lake for some grubbing.

Paw Paw Lake Yacht Club Area Ice Dive by dwmack on January 22nd, 2012
[caption id="attachment_3179" align="aligncenter" width="491" caption="Setting up camp in the parking lot"][/caption] Another weekend and another ice dive at Paw Paw lake.

If the water is not “hard” by dwmack on December 6th, 2009
[caption id="attachment_167" align="alignright" width="300" caption="1 dry suit and 3 wetsuit"][/caption] If the water is not “hard” (ie: not yet frozen)diving is still easy.

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After the dive lunch was at Hot Spot Cafe in Coloma, and Davids beautiful wife was our server :-) What a fun day.

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